Open Source the video tools

[leech]

Ok, perhaps this is a long shot, but makes sense to me. The open source model for driver production works so well. Look at all the drivers that people have written themselves for linux. The marvel stuff is working decently well in linux now, so why doesn't matrox open source certain parts of their video tools so that the world can program in the Mjpeg support. Seems to me to be reasonable. Or better yet, change their codebase so that it's more modular. So that indeed if someone wanted to write their own MJPEG codec they could, and just add it to the existing video tools. Just outright dropping support for a product that a lot of people bought, knowing that Matrox once upon a time had a great reputation for making the customer happy. Personally I love my card, though lately I've been quite pissed that none of the newer drivers will even install on my Marvel G400. Thankfully I spend most of my time in linux, and truthfully I really only have used the TV Tuner, haven't done much video editing as yet, namely due to lack of time. But this is my thoughts on this.

Besides, if Matrox opened the source on the video tools, they could have their own video tools for linux, which would be outstanding to support this on a platform that very soon could take off into the video editing market. Already Maya had been released for it. Open source is a great model for driver development. Though I do understand that some of it should be closed sourced (i.e. the patented dualhead technology) But still the majority of it should be open sourced, with a license that requires all bug fixes to be sent into a final driver. Let's get a codebase out there to fix all the bugs, etc. It's been done many times before.

Leech

[AlgoRhythm]

Well, my personal opinion at this point is that there's nothing we can say/do to Matrox to get them to release any code. I'm just going to do all of my video capture under Linux now. At least now if there's a bug, I can either fix it myself or speak directly with someone who can, and is interested in fixing it.

I thought about hacking together my own drivers for WinXY, but it's just too much hassle without cooperation from Matrox, and the drivers for Linux are pretty decent already.


AlgoRhythm

[GinoCyber]

LOL, you just gave up because you bragged about it being so easy but now you saw what your up against. If the linux heads can do it without help from matrox, why can't you?

Ciao

[leech]

Exactly what I say. I would do it myself, except that I have no programming skills. I have too many other projects already anyhow. But still, how hard would it be to just make it so we could plug a module into the video tools so that MJPEG would still be supported for the Marvel G400. I do believe the Zoran Technical sheets are available. Matrox just had too much already with trying to develop drivers and hardware. Not to mention a lot of their employees that went over to the Nvidiots.

Leech

[This_Idiot]

Haig,

By all means send 'em across, I'll happily be their librarian - as I will for any open source that folks feel like donating or swapping.

Chris

[Haig]

I do believe the Zoran Technical sheets are available.

Zoran got bought out by MGI software a while back so I don't know if you can stillg et the specs. I can get you the zoran specs if anyone is interested. You can get to me thru Chris and I'll send him the specs.

Haig

[tedSmith123]

Help me out here. I am running Red Hat 7 and I've download the Linux Video Tools. I've compiled it and then how do I use it ?? I try to run the program and nothing is happening. Can someone tell me the whole and full set of procedure... starting from how to compile (correctly) and so for....

Thanks

[This_Idiot]

Sorry Ted, I don't have the foggiest on Unix drivers - maybe you'd be better off asking the authors of the Linux MJPEG drivers ?

Or maybe Leech has got some ideas on this.

Anyway, for anyone that wants to take a look at the Zoran specs, please let me know, as a copy has fallen into my possession.

Chris
(T_I)

[leech]

after downloading the marvel modules you need to compile them, then run the update program that comes with them. That will install all the modules that you just compiled for your kernel. Then after that it's simply a matter of running xawtv (I believe you need one of the newer versions) and you're ready to go. I think that's what you're refering to the linux video tools.

Leech

[tedSmith123]

Yes, thanks leech !!!

So there is no need to change my x86Config file ?? Some one told me that I have to change that to get it working !!

[Profound Runner]

Other than the Zoran chip specs, I wouldn't expect much.

Matrox will not likely release the Video Tools source code. Mainly licensing issues for the portions of the code that access the Zoran chipset provided by Zoran and more likely the Macrovision portion.

I think Haig even hinted as much on the Matrox forums when someone had asked.

Of course Haig himself can clarify that for us.

------------------
Profound Runner
---- aka Willie -------

[This_Idiot]

It will have to be a marketing decision, not Haigs. And my experience with Matrox' marketing division is that they really believe in cutting off their own noses to spite their face. I'm not expecting this to get anywhere, we're going to have to force things a lot, and rely on piecing together information from other sources.

But, if they felt like it, it would be quite possible for Matrox to provide open source and include portions that are "sensitive" as object code which has to be included into the final compile. Not exactly rocket science.

[leech]

Actually all you should have to modify in the xf86config file is add the module "v4l" that should do it. I don't recall the actual line for it, but it should be right where the dri stuff is.

Leech